The White Sox introduced free agent signee Austin Hays this afternoon. The outfielder signed a $6MM contract with the rebuilding club, in large part because they’re well positioned to give him regular playing time in the outfield.
“Going back into free agency, I really wanted to go somewhere where I would have an opportunity to do that, play every day, get back to being able to play both sides of the ball, play defense every day as well,” Hays told reporters (link via Jay Cohen of The Associated Press). Hays played a semi-regular role with Cincinnati a year ago. He started a little over half the team’s games but got a decent amount of action as a designated hitter, playing just over 500 innings in left field.
That wasn’t entirely a decision based on usage. Hays had a trio of early-season injured list stints, all related to different areas of his left leg. He had battled a kidney infection in 2024. His most recent full season came in 2023, when he hit .275/.325/.444 in 566 plate appearances with the Orioles. Hays was an above-average everyday player in Baltimore for a few seasons. His recent production has been far more platoon dependent. The righty hitter has mashed left-handed pitching at a .335/.402/.543 clip over the past two years. His .233/.273/.387 line against righties is far less imposing.
The White Sox had arguably the worst right field situation in MLB before the Hays signing. He’ll be in the lineup against pitchers of either handedness and said he’s shooting to reach 140 games played. If he’s producing, he’s likely to be a midseason trade chip and might fit in more of a complementary role on a contender, but the immediate focus is on reestablishing himself as a viable everyday player.
Andrew Benintendi will be in the opposite corner. The left fielder is going into the fourth season of a five-year deal that hasn’t gone as planned. He’s a .245/.309/.391 hitter in more than 1600 plate appearances for the club. Owed $31MM for the next two years, Benintendi isn’t going to have any appeal on the trade market. General manager Chris Getz unsurprisingly said today that an offseason trade isn’t going to be on the table.
“We haven’t had too many conversations about Andrew, so we anticipate he’s going to be on this club come Opening Day,” the GM told reporters (link via James Fegan of Sox Machine). Benintendi has battled lower half injuries over the past two seasons as well, missing time with Achilles tendinitis and calf/groin issues.
That might lead to more work as a designated hitter in an ideal world, but the Sox are likely to lean heavily on their young catching duo of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero in that spot. Their outfield is thin enough that they don’t have many options to replace Benintendi in left (or right, if Hays slides to left) on days when he’s in the DH spot. Luisangel Acuña is expected to get primary run in center field. Everson Pereira and Derek Hill would be in that mix if they break camp, while non-roster invitees Jarred Kelenic and Dustin Harris have clear paths to jobs.
All those players are out of minor league options. The Sox have taken fliers on a number of former prospects squeezed out by other clubs, but there are only so many bench spots available. Third catcher Korey Lee and backup infielder Lenyn Sosa are also out of options, so there’s limited roster flexibility coming out of camp.
The 26-year-old Sosa finds himself in a tricky spot. He’s coming off a 22-homer season that led the team. It came with an aggressive approach that left him with a meager .293 on-base mark. Sosa also struggled defensively at second base, where Chase Meidroth enters the spring as the projected starter. Getz said that Sosa is unlikely to factor into the outfield mix and mostly remained limited to the right side of the infield. Munetaka Murakami is going to play regularly at first base. Meidroth and Miguel Vargas are right-handed bats ahead of him at second and third base, respectively.
It’s unlikely Sosa will be in jeopardy of losing his roster spot out of camp, but Getz conceded “there is a little bit of a redundancy with the right-handed corner bats” on the roster. The Sox would presumably be willing to consider trade offers if another team looking for a righty infield bat called. He’s not going to pull a huge return, but there’s enough offensive promise that he should get some attention if Chicago makes him available. Speculatively, teams like the Pirates, Padres and Rays could benefit from adding a role player with that profile.
Turning to the other side of the ball, right-hander Mike Vasil tells Rob Bradford and Courtney Finnicum of the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that he’s building up as a starter going into Spring Training. Vasil worked mostly out of the bullpen as a Rule 5 pick last year, only starting three of 47 appearances. He routinely worked three-plus innings and reached 101 frames altogether, so a swing role wouldn’t be much different than the one he handled as a rookie.
Vasil managed an excellent 2.50 earned run average in his debut campaign. His strikeout and walk profile wasn’t particularly impressive, though he kept the ball on the ground at a strong 51.4% clip. The Rule 5 roster restrictions are lifted in year two, so the Sox can option Vasil to Triple-A if they want him establishing a starting routine in the minors. It’d be difficult to take him out of the big league bullpen if he’s pitching at the same level he did last season, though.
The Sox are likely to open the season with a front four of Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Anthony Kay and Sean Burke if everyone is healthy. Free agent pickup Sean Newcomb can work as a starter or multi-inning reliever. They landed upper minors pitching prospect David Sandlin in the Jordan Hicks salary dump with the Red Sox, while Jonathan Cannon remains on the 40-man roster.
Projected lineup vs. RHP
1-2B Meidroth (R)
2-C Teel (L)
3-SS Montgomery (L)
4-1B Murakami (L)
5-RF Hays (R)
6-LF Benintendi (L)
7-3B Vargas (R)
8-DH Quero (S)
9-CF Acuña (R)
I do love seeing both Teel & Quero in the lineup at the same time. I do think, even against righties, Vargas will be a little higher in the order.
This is a depressing projection, Mr. Aaron. Don’t we need a little more thump out of the DH? What makes anyone think Acuña will break camp as the starting center fielder? Just because he’s speedy? And don’t we need a little more thump out of that position, too? Then there’s Vargas: an average player at best, he’s one of those prospects the Sox love to hype, but in a year and a half he’s only shown that he’s reached the limit of his upside. Everyone knows Benintendi has been a disappointment, and there’s no reason to think he’ll somehow turn things around as he slides into his mid-thirties. Let’s hope for the best with Hays and Murakami, and let’s hope also that three players at the top of your line-up avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx.
They’re a 70-win team at best. This season is just about getting at bats for the younger guys.
I think Acuna is the default CF because there’s nobody else even remotely interesting on the roster for that position.
Pereira maybe? He seems less likely to hit MLB pitching.
Derek Hill? Definitely a 4th OF at best at this point in his career.
CF is a position where I could see the opening day starter being picked up on waivers or via trade at the end of spring.
Think CF will mostly be played by Acuna and Baldwin, who was better in CF than the corners. Hill is a guy I don’t think survives Spring Training.
I could see Hill winning a 4th of spot but would ultimately be a who cares situation because he’s probably out of baseball by the end of this year or maybe next.
There’s a lot of guys on the Sox 40 man currently who I won’t be shocked when they are out of baseball soon. A lot of AAAA guys and borderline replacement talent surrounding 8-10 guys to get intrigued about.
Just with so many guys out of options (Pereira, Acuna, Sosa, Mead, Lee) I’m finding it difficult to see the carry Hill too. They may just hold onto him through ST though in case there are injuries.
I’m not convinced losing any of these guys are great losses.
Hill is probably the obvious man out. Lee and Mead probably feel like longshots. If some injuries happen they have a chance.
😪😪😪😪😪😪😪
So you taking a random guy’s projection to heart? You have many issues then.
I’ll bet Andrew turns it up a notch in 2027 during his walk year. Like almost every other free-agent-to-be does.
I don’t think it’s that depressing. It will be interesting to see if Teel and Colson can maintain their success of last year. And if Murakami can reach the power potential he seems to have. I do agree that they need a better hitter at DH than Quero. Sosa should be able to slot in there if he doesn’t win a job in the field. His OPS+ was only 101 despite the homers though. Quero was at a 94 OPS+, so maybe not that much of a difference.
I would have Vargas hitting 4th in that order. It would help him out and break up having 3 straight lefties.
Am I wrong but we gotta find at bats for Sosa right. This team has been trash. And the only guy who has improved every year in a god awful system. After he leads in bombs. Is crazy to me. Cause Im team eye test and I watch this guy everyday. we’re more competitive in the lineup
I wish they would play him in LF
Let’s not throw him in the outfield pls
Nowhere else to really get him consistent ABs.
I’ll bet Lenyn Sosa gets plenty of reps in the outfield this spring. It will just add to his versatility and allow him more PA opportunities. The OF is clearly the White Sox weakest area and getting Sosa and his decent power bat out there can be a benefit to the club.
It’s not as if Sosa doesn’t have the athleticism to do it. He was signed as SS, and has since played all over the infield. If he has an arm that can man SS and 3B it certainly ought to be adequate enough to play in LF where he might offer a decent platoon option with weak armed Andrew Benintendi who might not have as many reps available to him at DH in 2026.
Sosa would be far less of a gamble transitioning to the OF than former White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets were.
I guess but he is still a defensive liability.
I wouldn’t call the Sox farm system terrible imo
Law has their farm 8th. And with 5 prospects in his top 100.
It’s clear that he’s found his power stroke. 22 bombs is nothing to sneeze at. I would much prefer that he get AB’s over a few other guys on the roster.
The most likely path for Lenyn Sosa to get more PA’s with the White Sox as currently constructed will be an injury or under-performance from a projected starting infielder in spring training.
Sosa also possesses the most trade value among the White Sox “veteran” position players in camp. A deal to another club might offer him a better path to more frequent PA’s, at least in a platoon scenario.
Sosa could technically be the short-side platoon at 1B with Munetaka Murakami but all indications are the Nippon star will get full-time reps in the White Sox batting order. If Murakami garners more DH time that might open up 1B a bit more for Sosa.
He’s one of the few guys who’s earned a longer look. He’s just kind of stuck in the middle though. He’s not good enough defensively to be a regular fielder. His bat isn’t good enough to be a full time DH/1b.
He’ll probably get 400+ ABs bouncing around the IF and DH and if he can build on his power output or cut down on his strikeouts he could work his way into future plans.
As he moves into arbitration carrying a tweener like him becomes a different value proposition. It’s a big year for him.
Taylor can hopefully sacrifice a little velocity to improve his command (and have 3 effective pitches) in minors to become a starter later in ’26. Gonzalez can backfill his BP role in meantime since he looks ideal long-term for that.
They are reportedly trying to give Taylor 100 innings this season as a reliever that could transition to a starter in 2027
I’ll take Benetendi back to the Royals I’m sure that the White Sox would take a couple buckets of baseballs and a few coupons for free barbecue.
If KC or any club took on 12-15 mil of 31 owed next 2yrs-pretty sure that would be sufficient with zero concern even if within the division.
Tennessee BBQ is superior.
Soda seems like a perfect fit for the Pirates maybe even a package with Quero maybe a Thomas Harrington & a good majority league bullpen arm going back ????
Pirates don’t really need a catcher. The White Sox would want Harrington plus two OF prospects.
For Sosa alone? That seems like a very weighty return.
I would think we could get him for Yorke, 1-1.
If the White Sox would fo that I think the Pirates would do that in a heart beat
For Sosa ???? You’re crazy no way they get 3 players for a super utility guy.
I would do Harrington straight up. But more than that I can’t see that happening
Bart is not the future & Davis is a back up. He can’t hit.
Now you can get 2 OF prospects for Quero
I wonder what the Pirates would give up for a Lee/Sosa package.
Sosa is more of a bat-first 2B at this point and the Pirates traded for Brandon Lowe already. He can “play” 1B and 3B though
Pls don’t let Mike Vasil be a starter:(
Zero chance that happens. He wasn’t even a good SP in the minors.
His stuff plays so much better as a long reliever.
The Sox have 6+ SP candidates heading into spring training with Thorpe, Schultz and H. Smith due to make appearances sometime after Memorial Day. Vasil should remain in the bullpen. He and Taylor provide the value of two RP who can throw multiple innings per outing.
Vasil headed for a big regression.
He did well in a long reliever type role
TUD:
Low strikeouts. A lot of walks. Not a good whip. The guys’s ERA vastly outpitched the rest of his numbers. I think he’s very likely due for a major regression.
His whip was under 1.30. Anywhere above that is the danger zone. Also has a ground ball rate of 51% which is a lot along with average metrics.
TUD:
His whip was 1.25. That’s not good. His expected ERA last season was almost 5. I would expect him to be a pitcher with an ERA of about 4.5 to 5.
What’s a good whip rate under 1.20?
TUD:
Yeah, I mean that’s kind of in the territory of average. I would consider under that to be pretty good. I look at a pitcher of having good WHIP when it’s about 1.1. Under that is excellent and obviously under one is outstanding.
Probably what you hoping for but the guy is a stud. Sorry Mickey
NewOrleansSaintsFan:
Oh my God, you’re totally delusional. It has nothing to do about what I’m hoping for. Do you actually have any advanced understanding of statistics? His numbers absolutely stunk outside of his ERA. He gets ground balls, but he vastly outpitched his ERA. The guy is nowhere near a stud. I’d expect an ERA probably closer to 4.5 or higher this year. Do you know his expected ERA last season was 4.9 based on his numbers? He was very lucky. Accept it.
Kinda mind-blowing that Benintendi was worth 1.0 WAR last year. I’m hoping that once someone in the minors shows they are ready for a promotion, the Sox just bite the bullet and cut him.
They paid Benintendi $75M to stop the revolving door in LF which he has done…..but that’s all he’s done.
Amazing what a crap shoot long deals are. This looked like a solid signing to me and most.
Im starting to like the Hays deal a bit more everyday
ChiSox will be a 80+ win team this year. Book it Dano
Os fan here. Hays when healthy is a very solid player. Can help at plate and in the field. Strong and accurate arm. Not the fastest, but catches everything. Os need WS to be competitive. A bad WS team really helps Royals,Tigers and Cleveland in WC race. So im pulling for WS to be much better!!!
Why is no one talking about Brooks Baldwin in center. I believe Brooks Baldwin will be an all star in next 3 years
I love me some Brooks and hope he gets a lot of time in CF.
Baldwin can’t even play passable defense in the OF corners, and you want to stick him in CF?
Why set him up to fail? Just keep him in the OF corners, 2B, and 3B while keeping him away from LHP whenever possible. And free up some playing time by being more liberal with the IL. If a guy like Vargas, Meidroth, Hays, or Benintendi is going to be out 2 or 3 days, just IL him and let him get treatment. Don’t play short-handed.
Let’s do another salary dump with Boston: Andrew Benintendi for Masataka Yoshida.
Red Sox save $1.5 million in 2026 and $3.5 million in 2027. Both guys could be legit change-of-scenery candidates, with Benintendi returning to the place where he had his early-career success, and Yoshida getting a chance to play with Munetaka Murakami.
To make it even, the White Sox get Gage Ziehl back.